I have been reading Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching, one of the most translated books in history. My version is published by The Sacred Arts translation by Ma-Ho Kwok, Jay Ramsey and Martin Palmer. I have also been reading Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's wonderful book "Change your thoughts, Change Your Life" and listening to the audio version while I drive. This book is also based on the teachings of Lao Tzu and contains Wayne's reviews of the teachings.
As this is the "Season of Goodwill" then Verse 53 of Tao Te Ching is remarkable:
Sacred Arts version - quote:
"If all I know is a fraction then my only fear is losing the thread
The Great way is easy but people are forever being taken down sidetracks
They look after the palaces but ignore the fields
The granaries are empty but they wear wonderful clothes
They go about with arms and gorge themselves on fine food and drink
How rich they are and they have stolen it all from the poor
They are the robber barons of now, this is not the real Tao"
Wayne Dyer version - quote:
"If I have even just a little sense, I should walk in the Great Way and my only fear would be straying.
The Great Way is smooth and straight and yet people prefer devious paths.
That is why the court is corrupt and fields lie in waste, the granaries are empty.
Dressing magnificently, wearing a sharp sword stuffing oneself with food and drink, amassing wealth to the extent of not knowing what to do with it is being like a robber.
I say this pomp at the expense of others is like the boasting thieves after looting.
This is not the Tao"
One translation written in 1944 by Witter Bynner is also quoted in Wayne Dyer's book - quote:
"See how fine the palaces
And see how poor the farms
How bare the peasant's granaries
While gentry wear embroideries
Hiding sharpened arms
And the more they have the more they seize
How can there be such men as these,
Who never hunger, never thirst
Yet eat and drink until they burst."
It strikes me that the last three years or so many people have strayed down "devious paths" and that it is time to return to the Tao, the Great Way.
The planet is overpopulated, wasteful and lacks compassion for fellow humans. Despite the efforts of many "good people" over the years there is still War and famine.
Perhaps we should all read Lao Tzu's works that have lasted for over two thousand five hundred years and realise that Mother Earth is providing for us and that we should be more careful how we treat each other and our planet, if we are to survive for another two thousand five hundred years.
If we have years of "Goodwill" rather than seasons then we may well have a Planet earth in AD4562.
